WARREN — A Warren woman who initially lied to police in a child abuse investigation before admitting that she struck her child causing bruises and contusions — and threw toys that hit the child — has been sent to state prison.

Harley R. Billyard, 21, was sentenced on Friday before President Judge Maureen Skerda.

Billyard’s attorney, Chief Public Defender John Parroccini, noted that his client has a mental health diagnosis and suggested that this conduct likely stemmed from that. He said it was fortunate that the situation did not escalate beyond what occurred.

City of Warren police were dispatched to Warren General Hospital on July 2 for a report of alleged child abuse.

It was there that a two-year-old child was brought to the emergency room with “multiple bruises and contusions in different stages of healing about the body,” police said.

Following a formal child abuse report, police said Warren County Children and Youth Services completed a safety plan and the child was removed from the home pending investigation.

Detectives obtained medical records and photos of the child’s injuries, and spoke with emergency room doctors.

The doctors advised that “the injuries were suspicious in nature.”

Billyard “reported that someone may have entered the home at night and injured the victim,” police said.

During a subsequent interview with Billyard, she “was upset at the questions that were asked of her,” according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Police said Billyard told detectives that “she never hit her child and lets him walk all over her” but “finally admitted that she struck her child out of frustration and also threw toys that hit the child, but it wasn’t intentional.”

First Assistant District Attorney Cody Brown explained the situation and reported to the court that the child’s foster parent has reported that the child wakes up after bad dreams and flinches when touched.

Billyard declined to comment and presented a letter to Skerda, which Skerda reviewed prior to sentencing.

Skerda then acknowledged that Billyard recognizes mental health issues.

“You say you’re sorry for your actions,” Skerda said. “Ma’am, that’s not the way you show love.”

She said she was imposing a longer period of incarceration that “would benefit you” and noted that the assault was believed to be “progressive,” meaning that it “happened more than once.

She reiterated that the child flinches when he’s around people and struggles to trust.

“You caused that ma’am,” Skerda said, noting that the sentence would be in the aggravated range given the relationship of her to the child and the age of the child.

Skerda then sentenced Billyard to 18 months to five years in state prison with credit for 150 days time served, $2,125 in fines and fees, submission of a DNA sample, and consideration for a special needs unit relative to mental health in state prison at classification. She is boot camp, but not recidivism risk reduction incentive, eligible.